ScRSG Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 Our group have been discussing the green used by Hornby, and have come to the conclusion that it is a bit too "flat" or "pale" compared to Bachmann's which is how most of us remember BR Green. Railmatch seem to have it right with their green. So, without a complete repaint, does anyone have any ideas how to develop the Hornby green into a richer colour? A fine coat of gloss varnish helps bring out the colour, but could anything further be added to just change the shade? Humbrol used to do clear colours for brake lights on car kits and I wonder if a dash of this added to the varnish would make a difference - anybody any ideas? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bike2steam Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 I agree about the Hornby green, that's why all my Hornby green locos end up weathered ( but not overly so). For cleaner, near 'ex works' BR green kit built locos ( when I used to use Railmatch enamel) I'd always blow over (airbrush) a light coat of black before the green. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Metr0Land Posted May 10, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 10, 2015 I think it's the actual finish that lets it down. Here are 3 pics of Cadbury Castle which I recently changed to Taunton Castle (close up pics can be very cruel). I used T-Cut on the green, then some general weathering muck which was mostly wiped off again, leaving dirt in the crevices. Finally, a thin coat of Micro Satin on the green. In 'real life' it looks pretty similar to what I expect reasonably clean BR green to be. Unfortunately with fluorescent light I can't quite get the effect I'm seeing with Mk1 eyeball, but hopefully this looks better than out-of-the-box Hornby. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MikeParkin65 Posted May 10, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 10, 2015 Agree about Hornby's green being 'off'. Actually, Cadbury Castle above is finished in a slightly richer green than most Hornby loco so not necessarily representative of the general problem. Would take a photo of mine now next to a Royal Scot to demo the point but my phone has gone flat. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebell Model Railway Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 Never really liked Hornby's BR green, but you tell china the difference.. they will put a green paint on it.I feel it lacks depth the green they use.... I think I showed this some time ago 2x duke of Gloucester's side by side one repainted with Phoenix paints BR green. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold farren Posted May 10, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 10, 2015 Hornbys scots/pats come in to shades and Nether seem as nice as bachmanns jubilee. But hornbys lining tends to look better or is that just me Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-BOAF Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 It certainly seems that since the move from Sanda Kan to Refined et al, Hornby's BR Green has become somewhat 'washed out' and flat. Before we tar Hornby with a particular brush, worth noting things used to be better; maybe the argument is about contract factories and consistancy of adherence to Hornby's specification See pic from 'Silver Sidelines' - SK top, REF bottom. Not the best photo light wise, but illustrates the differences between two nominally identical models (different versions of double chimney castles). https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7549/16052133607_5f779f6e88_c.jpg Also note that Bachmann have previously got Brunswick Green horribly wrong, namely in the 2010-11 period when it was somewhat 'bright' (A2 Blue Peter, Bachellor's Button, 9F Evening Star 'A' version) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Metr0Land Posted May 11, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 11, 2015 The weather was much nicer today so I took some locos outside. First up, Cadbury/Taunton Castle buffed up/weathered as described yesterday. A line up with Cadbury/Taunton Castle in the foreground. Centre is an Airfix Castle I had professionally resprayed BR green about 35 years ago (renamed Warwick Castle), which always looked ok indoors but looks a little pale outside. Furthest is Hornby Overton Grange straight out of the box (no idea which factory produced this). It’s the only Hornby BR green loco I have which is untouched. A comparison of Taunton and Warwick Castles. A comparison of Taunton Castle and Overton Grange. Now I’m more confused than ever…… but….. one thing we haven’t discussed here is the fact that ‘cleaning with an oily rag’ isn’t necessarily cleaning at all! Am trying to find a colour pic with 2 locos together showing how ex works and in service may have changed the appearance but not having much luck at the mo’ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bike2steam Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 The only trouble with pics is the light available when taken, but going by the previous sample a shade somewhere between the two would be about right. Your Taunton Castle is just a bit too dark, Overton Grange looks good for ex-works if it had a less matt, and more gloss finish, Warwick Castle looks as tho' it's in an exGW, pre nationalisation, green ('middle chrome' less blue, more yellow). That's just my thoughts on it, others may disagree. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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